As with all UAG cases, installation of the Monarch was a breeze. Featuring a one-piece design that stretches, it installed literally in seconds and fit the iPhone X perfectly. The Monarch will approximately double the thickness of your phone, but add only a small amount to the length and width of your device. Due to its composite construction, it is also very lightweight. Boasting 5-layer construction, I was unfortunately unable to find of what those 5 layers consist. Still, getting that far down into the weeds becomes less of an issue when a reputable manufacturer like UAG conducts actual drop testing on their products. (Self) Certified to the MIL-STD 810G 516.6 standard (multiple drops onto plywood covered concrete from a height of 2 meters), the UAG Monarch will very likely provide the average user with all the drop protection he/she will need. In particular, its reinforced corners, which is often the point of impact for a dropped phone, are designed to absorb shocks rather than pass them on to your device.

The Monarch is available in five styles: Graphite (grey), platinum (silver), crimson (glossy red), black (er, black), and carbon fiber (black/grey crosshatch). At this point, it's important to point out that the carbon fiber model is not actually made of carbon fiber any more than the platinum version is made of platinum. I point this out because numerous reviews on UAG's own site rave about how special it is having a case made of carbon fiber. Yes, that would be special, but it would also not cost $60. Once you have selected a style, you will find that all of these cases have the same distinctive UAG details on the back. Real metal rivets in the corners give it a look and feel of quality, and the aggressive angles and textures make it a real attention-getter. Lastly, while the volume and power buttons are covered, the mute switch and Lightning Port are not. On a water-resistant phone, this is less of an issue, but covering at least the Lightning Port would have been a nice touch on a phone case that supports wireless charging since that port will likely be used quite a bit less as a result.

SummaryIf you can afford the asking price, UAG's Monarch is an excellent case for the clumsy and the active. Boasting drop-testing at the MIL STD 810G 516.6 level, you can likely trust your phone with UAG for all but the most punishing of environments. And they look great.